Southwest Airlines Co. announced today that the Company flew 3.1 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in December 1999, a 17.7 percent increase from the 2.6 billion RPMs flown in December 1998. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 14.1 percent to 4.7 billion from the December 1998 level of 4.2 billion. The load factor for the month was 64.6 percent, up 1.9 points from December 1998.

For the fourth quarter of 1999, Southwest flew 9.4 billion RPMs, compared with the 7.8 billion RPMs recorded for the same period of 1998, an increase of 19.4 percent. Available seat miles increased 13.1 percent to 13.9 billion from the fourth quarter 1998 level of 12.3 billion. The fourth quarter 1999 load factor was 67.3 percent, up 3.5 points from the same period last year.

For the year ended December 31, 1999, Southwest flew 36.5 billion RPMs, compared with 31.4 billion RPMs recorded for 1998, an increase of 16.1 percent. Available seat miles increased 11.2 percent to 52.9 billion from the 1998 level of 47.5 billion. The 1999 load factor was 69.0 percent, up 2.9 points from last year.

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